Always Keep Evolving

from a cultural conversation with Yo-Yo Ma

and the Wall Street Journal

Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma was recently interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, "The Ever-Curious Cellist." He had many inspiring things to say. Some of his thoughts are especially relevant to the art of communicating and engaging others. And although their context is music and performing, they speak to the essence of enlightened storytelling...

You spend years trying to learn how to communicate that this sound is reflective of that thought, but then there's the question of how it's received.

My job as a performer is to make something memorable. If I do something nice but forgettable, it needn't have happened.

There are moments when the answers about who you are and what you're doing can change suddenly. Even if we don't like change, we change anyway. There's no real stasis. So the question is how do you change?

People will ask 'Are you famous?' And I always answer 'My mother thinks so.' Besides, even exceptionally talented artists need to practice and grow. I may be playing the same pieces, but the way I'm thinking about them is different.

Colin Goedecke is a strategic story developer and senior-level interviewer, with a 25-year history helping leading and emerging companies worldwide platform and tell their marketing stories. Always Keep Evolving is the 24th in a series of thought pieces to help us think, act and communicate in wiser ways. Others can be found at www.tenowls.blogspot.com

Yo-Yo Ma is a celebrated cellist, who has played with most of the world's major orchestras. He currently plays with his own Silk Road Ensemble, which brings together musicians from diverse countries which are historically linked to the Silk Road.

share these thoughts

with a friend or colleague

www.tenowls.com
strategic story development

www.linkedin.com/in/colingoedecke
my profile